Hardanger Plateau

Hardangervidda National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Hardangervidda landscape
Location	Buskerud, Hordaland, and Telemark, Norway
Nearest city	Odda, Rjukan
Coordinates	60°03′N 007°25′E / 60.050°N 7.417°E / 60.050; 7.417Coordinates: 60°03′N 007°25′E / 60.050°N 7.417°E / 60.050; 7.417
Area	3,422 km2 (1,321 sq mi)
Established	1981
Governing body	Directorate for Nature Management

Hardangervidda (English: Hardanger Plateau) is a mountain plateau (Norwegian: vidde) in central southern Norway, covering parts of the counties of Buskerud, Hordaland and Telemark. It is the largest plateau of its kind in Europe, with a cold year-round alpine climate, and one of Norway's largest glaciers, Hardangerjøkulen, is situated here. Much of the plateau is protected as part of Hardangervidda National Park. Hardangervidda is a popular tourist and leisure destination, and it is ideal for many outdoor activities.

The plateau is the largest peneplain (eroded plain) in Europe, covering an area of about 6,500 km² (2,500 sq mi) at an average elevation of 1,100 m (3,500 ft). The highest point on the plateau is the Sandfloegga, which reaches a height of 1,721 m (5,646 ft).

The landscape of the Hardangervidda is characterised by barren, treeless moorland interrupted by numerous pools, lakes, rivers and streams. There are significant differences between the west side, which is dominated by rocky terrain and expanses of bare rock, and the east side, which is much flatter and more heavily vegetated. The climate also varies between the two sides: it is considerably wetter on the west side than on the east, with over 1,000 mm per year (39 inches) recorded in some parts. The prominent peak of Hårteigen 1,690 m (5,545 ft) is visible across much of the plateau.

Much of the Hardangervidda's geology is extremely ancient. The rolling fells of the Hardangervidda are the remnants of mountains that were worn down by the action of glaciers during the Ice Ages. The bedrock is mainly of Precambrian and Cambro-Silurian origin.